[Event] Celebrating the Hindu Festival of Diwali Saturday, November 11

From: Daksha Howard <howardd_at_beloit.edu>
Date: Fri, 10 Nov 2023 09:49:41 -0600

*Celebrating the Hindu Festival of Diwali (festival of lights)*
[image: diwali.jpeg]



*Join us on Saturday, November 11, from 7 pm to 10 pm*

*The Stack - **Powerhouse - 4th Floor- *

Diwali, also known as Deepawali, the biggest Hindu festival, is just around
the corner and people are already busy making preparations. It falls on the
15th day of the month of Kartik - the darkest night of the year according
to the Hindu lunar calendar. This year, the festival of lights will be
celebrated across India with great pomp and enthusiasm on *Sunday, November
12*. Diwali celebrates the triumph of light over darkness and good over
evil. It is believed that on this day Lord Ram, Mata Sita, and his brother
Lakshman returned to Ayodhya after their 14-year vanvas (exile) and victory
over Ravana, the monarch of Lanka.

 What's the festival about? The word Diwali comes from the Sanskrit word
*Deepavali, *meaning "rows of lighted lamps" that Indians light outside
their homes to symbolize the inner light that protects from spiritual
darkness. Each religion/faith marks different historical events and
stories. Hindus celebrate the return of deities, Rama and Sita, to Ayodhya
after their 14-year exile. They also celebrate the day Mother Goddess Durga
destroyed a demon called Mahisha. Sikhs particularly celebrate the release
from prison of the sixth guru Hargobind Singh in 1619. But Sikhs celebrated
the festival before this date.

· In northern India, they celebrate the story of King Rama's return
to Ayodhya after he defeated Ravana by lighting rows of clay lamps.

· Southern India celebrates it as the day that Lord Krishna defeated
the demon Narakasura.

· In western India the festival marks the day that Lord Vishnu, the
Preserver (one of the main gods of the Hindu trinity) sent the demon King
Bali to rule the nether world.

*DIWALI IS CELEBRATED OVER FIVE DAYS.*

· DAY ONE: People clean their homes and shop for gold or kitchen
utensils to help bring good fortune.

· DAY TWO: People decorate their homes with clay lamps and create
design patterns called Rangoli on the floor using colored powders or sand.

· DAY THREE: On the main day of the festival, families gather
together for Lakshmi puja, a prayer to Goddess Lakshmi, followed by
mouth-watering feasts and firework festivities.

· DAY FOUR: This is the first day of the new year, when friends and
relatives visit with gifts and best wishes for the season.

· DAY FIVE: Brothers visit their married sisters, who welcome them
with love and a lavish meal.




*“Our ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beauty and the test
of our civilization.” -Mahatma Gandhi*


Daksha Howard

Program Coordinator

Residential Life

Beloit College

Phone- 608-363-2125

Email - howardd_at_beloit.edu

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Hours: 9 am to 5 pm - Monday Through Thursday

Friday - 8 am to 1 pm



diwali.jpeg
(image/jpeg attachment: diwali.jpeg)

Received on Fri Nov 10 2023 - 09:49:35 CST

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